Kalanchoe plant named ‘Soft Katharina’

ABSTRACT

A distinct cultivar of Kalanchoe plant named ‘Soft Katharina’, characterized by its numerous large light orange flowers; upright and compact plant habit; dark green leaves; and excellent postproduction longevity.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofKalanchoe plant, botanically known as Kalanchoe blossfeldiana, andhereinafter referred to by the name ‘Soft Katharina’.

The new Kalanchoe is a product of a planned breeding program conductedby the Inventor in Hinnerup, Denmark. The objective of the breedingprogram was to create new freely-flowering Kalanchoe cultivars withcompact plant habit and excellent postproduction longevity. The newKalanchoe is a naturally-occurring whole plant mutation of the Kalanchoeblossfeldiana cultivar Katharina, disclosed in U.S. Plant patentapplication Ser. No. 09/334,028. The cultivar Soft Katharina wasdiscovered and selected by the Inventor as a flowering plant within apopulation of plants of the cultivar Katharina in a controlledenvironment in Hinnerup, Denmark.

Asexual reproduction of the new Kalanchoe by terminal cuttings taken atHinnerup, Denmark, by the Inventor, has shown that the unique featuresof this new Kalanchoe are stable and reproduced true to type insuccessive generations.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar Soft Katharina has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature, daylength and lightintenstity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Soft Katharina’. These characteristicsin combination distinguish ‘Soft Katharina’ as a new and distinctcultivar:

1. Large light orange flowers.

2. Upright and compact plant habit.

3. Dark green leaves.

4. Excellent postproduction longevity.

Plants of the new Kalanchoe differ primarily from plants of the parentcultivar Katharina in flower color.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceof the new Kalanchoe, showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors ofthe new Kalanchoe. The photographs were taken under diffuse maturallight conditions on an overcast day with electronic flash atapproximately noon in Hinnerup, Denmark.

The photograph on the first sheet comprises a side perspective view of atypical potted plant of ‘Soft Katharina’.

The photograph at the top of the second sheet comprises a topperspective view of a typical potted plant of ‘Soft Katharina’ showingthe flowers and foliage.

The photograph at the bottom of the second sheet is a close-up view ofthe following: side perspective view (top) and top perspective view of atypical flowering cyme (bottom) and immature (top) and fully expandedleaves (bottom) of ‘Soft Katharina’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart except where general terms ofordinary dictionary significance are used. Unpinched plants used in thephotographs and for the following observations and measurements weregrown in Hinnerup, Denmark, under commercial practice in a glass-coveredgreenhouse for about 11 weeks after the start of short day/long nightphotoperiodic treatment with average temperatures of 20° C.

Botanical classification: Kalanchoe blossfeldiana cultivar SoftKatharina.

Parentage: Naturally-occuring whole plant mutation of Kalanchoeblossfeldiana cultivar Katharina, disclosed in U.S. Plant patentapplication Ser. No. 09/334,028.

Propagation:

Type cutting.—Terminal cuttings.

Time to initiate roots.—About 14 days.

Rooting habits.—Numerous, fine, fibrous, and well-branched.

Plant description:

Form.—Upright and compact plant habit with numerous compound cymes;freely flowering. Actual plant shape will depend on whether or notplants are pinched (apical terminals removed). Finished plant size isappropriate for one plant per 9 to 10-cm container or three plants per13-cm container.

Branching habit.—Freely branching. Pinching (removal of terminal apex)is not required but will enhance the lateral branch developement.

Plant height at flowering.—About 25 cm.

Plant diameter at flowering.—About 24 cm.

Foliage description.—Leaves simple, opposite, generally symmetrical.Size: Mature foliage size is reduced after floral induction. Vegetativeplants: Length: About 12 cm. Width: About 8.5 cm. Reproductive plants:Length: About 7 cm. Width: About 4.5 cm. Shape: Oval. Apex: Obtuse.Margin: Crenate; undulate. Aspect: Concave. Texture: Leathery, glabrous,succulent, rugose. Color: Young foliage, upper surface: 146A. Youngfoliage, lower surface: 147C. Mature foliage, upper surface: 147A.Mature foliage, lower surface: 147B.

Flower descriprion:

Flower type and habit.—Single flowers arranged in compound dichasialcymes that arise from leaf axils. Upright flowering stems. Freelyflowering. Flowers persistent.

Natural flowering season.—Late autumn/winter/early spring; flowerinitiation and development can be induced under short day/long nightconditions.

Time to flower.—In the summer with 20° C. growing temperatures, about 9weeks of short day/long night conditions are required to produceflowering plants. During the winter with supplemental lighting and 20°C. growing temperatures, about 11 weeks of short day/long nightconditions are required to produce flowering plants. Time to flower isprimarly dependent upon temperature and light intensity.

Flower opening.—First flower open is the terminal flower at the mainaxis and is followed by the opening of the terminal flowers of the sidebranches of the inflorescence. About 1.5 weeks after the first flowerhas opened, 50% of the remaining flowers are open.

Post-production longevity.—Plants of the new Kalanchoe maintain goodleaf and flower substance for at least five weeks under interiorenvironmental conditions.

Flower diameter.—About 2.2 cm.

Quantity.—Very freely flowering, at least 250 flowers per plant.

Flower buds.—Shape: Narrowly oblong. Length: About 1.6 cm. Width: About4 mm. Color: 41C.

Petals.—Quantity: Four fused at base. Length: About 8 mm. Shape: Roundobovate. Apex: Cuspidate. Margin: Entire. Texture: Glabrous, smooth andsatiny. Color: Upper surface: Initially 29B, with development, 35C.Lower surface: Towards apex, 39B; towards base, 27B.

Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Stamen number: Eight. Anther shape:Slightly oblong. Filament color: Yellow green. Pollen color: Yellow.Pistils: Pistil number: Four. Style color: Green. Stigma shape: Round.Ovaries: Superior and four-celled. Ovary size: About 7 mm by 1 mm. Ovarycolor: Light green.

Seed.—Seed production has not been observed.

Disease resistance: Resistance to known Kalanchoe diseases has not beenobserved to date under commercial practice.

